Industrial Designer

PART-TIME INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER /
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT & CAD SPECIALIST

Sensory Toy Product Development

Job Type

Part-Time / Project-Based with Ongoing Opportunity

Compensation

$50–$70/hour, depending on experience and qualifications

Initial Engagement

3–5 product concepts, with approximately 5–10 additional concepts anticipated over the following year

About the Opportunity

We are developing a new line of premium sensory toys for children ages 5–9, and we are looking for a talented Industrial Designer / Product Development & CAD Specialist to help bring our creative concepts to life.

We already have the creative vision and product concepts. We are looking for someone who can take our ideas, sketches, reference materials, and creative direction and transform them into accurate, production-ready 3D CAD files that can be provided directly to our manufacturing partners for prototyping, tooling, and production.

This is an exciting opportunity for a designer who enjoys taking a product from:

Concept → 3D CAD → Prototype → Tooling → Production

The initial engagement will focus on approximately 3–5 product concepts, with the potential to establish an ongoing part-time relationship. We anticipate developing approximately 5–10 additional concepts over the following year.

What You’ll Do

· Translate our product concepts, sketches, reference images, and creative direction into detailed 3D CAD models.

· Develop products with both design intent and manufacturability in mind.

· Create accurate, production-ready CAD files for factory prototyping and tooling.

· Develop product geometry appropriate for the intended manufacturing process.

· Consider materials, construction, tolerances, wall thickness, draft angles, parting lines, assembly, and other manufacturing requirements.

· Create technical drawings, dimensions, specifications, and other documentation as needed.

· Develop multiple design iterations based on feedback from our team, prototypes, and manufacturing partners.

· Communicate with manufacturing partners when necessary to answer technical questions and resolve design or tooling issues.

· Review factory feedback and make CAD revisions to ensure products can be successfully manufactured.

· Identify potential manufacturing challenges before tooling begins.

· Maintain clean, organized CAD files and clearly documented revisions.

· Help move each product from an exciting concept to a physical, manufacturable product.

What We Are NOT Looking For

We are not looking for someone who simply creates beautiful renderings or concept art.

We need someone who understands how products are actually made.

Our team will provide the creative direction. Your role is to take that creative vision and turn it into a technically accurate product that a factory can build.

You should be comfortable looking at a concept and thinking:

· How should this be constructed?

· What materials should be used?

· How will the pieces fit together?

· How will this be molded?

· Where should the parting lines be?

· What tolerances are required?

· What will the factory need to manufacture this correctly?

Ideal Experience

· Industrial design

· Consumer product development

· 3D CAD modeling

· Manufacturing and tooling

· Injection-molded plastics

· Silicone or soft-touch materials

· Product assemblies and moving components

· 3D printing and prototyping

· Factory/manufacturer communication

· Taking products from concept through production

Experience designing toys, children’s products, sensory products, or similar consumer products is highly desirable.

Experience with children’s product safety requirements is also a strong plus.

Technical Skills

Strong proficiency with one or more professional CAD platforms, such as:

· SolidWorks

· Fusion 360

· Rhino

· Creo

· Other comparable professional 3D CAD software

You should be able to provide examples of production-quality CAD work, not just visual renderings.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

· Highly detail-oriented

· Creative but manufacturing-minded

· Comfortable working independently

· A strong problem solver

· Able to interpret creative direction

· Comfortable with revisions and iteration

· Experienced communicating with manufacturers

· Proactive about identifying potential production issues

· Organized with files and documentation

· Interested in building a long-term working relationship

Most importantly, you should…